Acharya Prashant explains that the character Ellsworth Toohey represents the principle of inertia and the choice of the masses over the one truth. He describes man as being in an in-between state of suffering, where one can either rise toward liberation like Howard Roark or succumb to the lowest common denominator of the masses like Toohey. While Roark seeks to end suffering through consciousness and excellence, Toohey advocates for a 'beastly' state of dumbed-down consciousness to avoid the pain of striving. Toohey’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that since greatness is unattainable for most, it is better to embrace mediocrity and collective bondage. Acharya Prashant notes that Toohey recognizes greatness but views it as a threat to the security and comfort of the masses. Furthermore, the speaker highlights that Toohey’s path is one of convenience and manipulation rather than labor. Unlike Roark, who exerts immense physical and mental effort to create, Toohey uses his intellect to dominate the souls and minds of others through deceit. He characterizes Toohey as an 'absolute succumbist' who surrenders entirely to the material world and bodily needs. Acharya Prashant suggests that while Roark represents the rare pursuit of godliness and individuality, Toohey represents a more common, though extreme, human tendency to choose the easy route of social conformity and psychological drugging to escape the inherent conflict of human existence.
